Comparing the precision and accuracy of GPS positioning in forested areas

Abstract

The objective of this study is to clarify the performance of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in forested areas after selective availability (SA) was turned off. In this study, we conducted a field test on horizontal and vertical positional errors of GPS positioning at different points in forested areas. The precision and accuracy of GPS positioning at different points were then calculated and compared. Furthermore, the effect of differential GPS (DGPS) on precision and accuracy was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the necessity for DGPS after SA was turned off was discussed. As a result, the largest horizontal precision errors were found to be in the plantation forest, followed by the natural forest and forest road. On the other hand, precision errors were smallest at the landing, around which there were no obstacles. Horizontal accuracy errors were greatly improved by using the DGPS. Large vertical precision errors were produced in the plantation forest, on the forest road, and in the natural forest, while those at the landing were much smaller. Vertical accuracy errors were also relatively small at the landing. In conclusion, tree canopies greatly affected precision errors, and the DGPS improved not horizontal precision but horizontal accuracy. The autonomous GPS is sufficiently useful for purposes in which horizontal positional errors of a maximum of 10 m are allowable. However, the DGPS should be used for surveying and mapping, for which higher accuracy is necessary.